BLOOMSBURG, PA (April 24, 2010) – Things appeared to be heading in Kutztown's favor as the Golden Bears jogged onto the field with a four run lead in the top of fourth inning of a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) tournament elimination game against Bloomsburg. The Golden Bears had already won the opening game and had Bloomsburg on the ropes.
However, by the time the Golden Bears trotted to the back to dugout, they were down two runs after Bloomsburg scored six runs. The Huskies used that as a springboard to defeat Kutztown, 7-5. (BOXSCORE) Bloomsburg advances them to next weekend's PSAC championship round. Kutztown won the first game, 10-3, to stay alive. (BOXSCORE)
Bloomsburg (41-5 overall) bunched eight hits -- including six straight during one stretch -- to turn a 5-1 deficit into a 7-5 lead. In short for the Golden Bears (39-16) it was the softball equivalent of a “Nightmare on Elm Street.” Anything that could go wrong in that inning, did. Balls eluded KU fielders and fell in front of the outfielders. Everything but the scoreboard caved in on Kutztown in that inning.
“When we scored our four runs in the third inning, I knew Bloomsburg wouldn't let up,” Kutztown head coach Judy Lawes said. “Everything they hit in that inning found a hole. It was like a roller-coaster. I mean we were up and then down. I wasn't worried when they had that big inning because I still felt like we could come back. I am proud of how the team played today. They played with a lot of heart and we could see Bloomsburg again.”
Everybody had a hand in helping Kutztown extend Bloomsburg in the latest chapter of one of the region's best rivalries. This is the modern day version of Ali-Frazier.
The Golden Bears entered the day needing to win two games to keep their dream alive of advancing to next week's championship. However, in order to get to second game, Kutztown had to win the opener. No problem, Kutztown pounded out double digit hits for the seventh time in its last 10 games.
The Golden Bears jumped on Bloomsburg pitcher Shavaun Fisher in the first inning. The big blow was delivered by Heather Hannum, who is beginning to find her stroke after injuring her shoulder early in the season. Hannum fouled off six consecutive two-strike pitches before finding one she liked. Hannum lined a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence for a grand slam. It was her second home run in two days against the Huskies.
When Hannum's ball landed on the other side of the fence, Kutztown had a 5-0 lead it would not relinquish despite Bloomsburg's repeated threats throughout the game. Hannum was greeted at home plate by her excited teammates.
“As soon I as I got three balls on me, I knew that she would be around the strike zone,” Hannum said. “I just wanted to keep protecting the plate. I kept swinging and I finally got a good inside pitch to hit. I was not expecting the ball to go over the fence.”
Hannum's hit provided a surge of energy throughout the Kutztown bats which pounded out 13 hits in the first game. Krista Tedjeske, Maria Schiavo and Maria Isgro all had two hits each for the Golden Bears in the first game. Brianna Knipe collected three hits for Kutztown. Isgro and Tedjeske also had doubles during the game and Schiavo tripled.
Leading 6-3 heading into the seventh inning, Kutztown added four insurance runs to make sure that there would be another game. The big blow in the seventh inning was Katie Lynch's two-run single.
The biggest moment of the first game aside from Hannum's grand slam was pitcher Monica Glomb entering the game in the second inning. She was greeted with a bases loaded, nobody out situation. Kutztown led, 5-0, at the time. Glomb did a masterful job of escaping the inning by allowing just two runs. She wasn't nervous or scared when she entered the game.
“I knew I just needed to get one out at a time,” Glomb said. “I had pitched against Bloomsburg before so I wasn't nervous. Playing against Bloomsburg is fun because you know the intensity level is always going to be high.”
In the second game before the fourth inning, Kutztown had seized momentum. With KU serving as the home team, Lynch answered Bloomsburg's run in the top of the first inning with a two-out solo home run. The game remained tied, 1-1, before the Golden Bears scored four times in the third inning that was started when Jennifer Stow led off with a single.
Kutztown showed its resolve and toughness by scoring all of its runs with two outs. Lynch singled and Stow sprinted around the bases and slid home to give KU a 2-1 lead. Nicole Henninger kept the inning alive with a single. Tedjeske beat out a fielder's choice to load the bases for Hannum, who reached on an error. Lynch and Henninger scored to make it 4-1. Nicole Charles delivered a RBI single that scored Tedjeske.
“My heart was pounding especially after we scored those four runs in the third,” Schiavo said. “We knew Bloomsburg would come back at us. They were able to string some hits together. We were still confident because we had four innings left to come back. We're a little disappointed that we lost today, but now we'll focus on regionals and doing well there.”
Kutztown, which was second behind Bloomsburg, in the latest NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional poll, is expected to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA softball tournament. The selections and pairings will be announced on Sunday May 9. Kutztown has handed Bloomsburg two of its five defeats.
The Golden Bears get an immediate opportunity to put this loss behind them as they host University of the Sciences in a non-conference match-up at North Campus Field Wednesday afternoon at 3 p.m.
--KU--
